Apparatus for decapping bottles

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for removing twist-type caps from bottles comprising means for conveying the bottles at a given speed, as well as cap loosening means and cap removal means which are located one after another in the direction of the conveyance of the bottles and positioned to engage the caps on the bottles situated on the conveyor. The cap loosening means comprises a plurality of aligned rotatable discs and a movable belt spaced apart therefrom which is moved at a speed greater than the speed of the conveyor. Each of the discs has a series of recesses along the periphery thereof. Each of the recesses is formed of resilient material to securely engage a cap between the disc upon which it is located and the movable belt. Each disc is rotated by the movement of a bottle whose cap is engaged in a recess thereon to rotate the engaged cap to loosen same. Means are also provided along the belt for intermittently exerting a lateral force on the cap so as to jar the cap and therefore loosen it as it travels through the cap loosening means. The cap removal means comprises a stationary belt and spaced therefrom a belt movable at a speed greater than the speed of the conveyor. Each cap is securely engaged between the belts to further rotate the cap with respect to the bottle until the cap is no longer secured to the bottle.

United States Patent 1 Cato [ Oct. 29, 1974 APPARATUS FOR DECAPPINGBOTTLES [75] Inventor: Carl P. Cato, Lynchburg, Va.

[73] Assignee: Dacam Corporation, Madison Heights, Va.

[22] Filed: Apr. 26, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 354,486

[52] US. Cl. 53/381 A, 53/331.5 [51] Int. Cl B65d 43/40 [58] Field ofSearch 53/381 A, 317, 318, 331.5;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,606,707 8/1952 Tambini etal 53/381 A 2,650,748 9/1953 Bennett et al. 53/381 A PrimaryExaminerTravis S. McGehee [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for removingtwist-type caps from bottles comprising means for conveying the bottlesat a given speed, as well as cap loosening means and cap removal meanswhich are located one after another in the direction of the conveyanceof the bottles and positioned to engage the caps on the bottles situatedon the conveyor. The cap loosening means comprises a plurality ofaligned rotatable discs and a movable belt spaced apart therefrom whichis moved at a speed greater than the speed of the conveyor. Each of thediscs has a series of recesses along the periphery thereof. Each of therecesses is formed of resilient material to securely engage a capbetween the disc upon which it is located and the movable belt. Eachdisc is rotated by the movement of a bottle whose cap is engaged in arecess thereon to rotate the engaged cap to loosen same. Means are alsoprovided along the belt for intermittently exerting a lateral force onthe cap so as to jar the cap and therefore loosen it as it travelsthrough the cap loosening means. The cap removal means comprises astationary belt and spaced therefrom a belt movable at a speed greaterthan the speed of the conveyor. Each cap is securely engaged between thebelts to further rotate the cap with respect to the bottle until the capis no longer secured to the bottle.

26 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures "min s in mun APPARATUS FOR DECAPPINGBOTTLES The present invention relates to bottle decapping machines andmore particularly to apparatus for removing twist-type caps frombottles.

Manufacturers of glass containers manufacture bottles for use by productmanufacturers to package products of various types. These bottles arerelatively expensive to produce and therefore constitute a substantialpercentage of the cost of the product to the ultimate consumer. in orderto minimize this cost and ecological reasons, many product manufacturersmake it economically beneficial for the consumer to return the bottlesto the product manufacturer so that they can be reused.

Twist or screw-type caps have recently become popular for use on bottlesbecause of the modest cost of these caps. Further, these types of capshave a definite utilitarian advantage over caps which must be defomedduring the bottle opening process, such as those which are removed by abottle opener, because the consumer can reuse these caps to reseal thebottle if the contents have not been entirely consumed.

Reusable bottles with twist-type caps, therefore, are commonly in use.However, it has been found that often the bottles are returned with thecap in place thereon. Thses caps, of course, must be removed by theproduct manufacturer prior to refilling the bottles. The cap removalprocedure presents certain difficulties because not all of thebottles'are returned with the caps and those that are so tightly sealedthat conventional decapping procedures have proven ineffective. Since itis time consuming and costly to separate the capped returned bottlesfrom the non-capped return bottles it is necessary to have apparatuswhich will remove the caps from capped bottles but will pass thenon-capped bottles without acting upon them.

One system which has been utilized in order to decap returned bottleswith twist-type caps is a stationary belt spaced from a moving belt. Thebottles are conveyed in line by a conveyor belt such that the caps, ifpresent, are engaged between the belts. The movable belt is drivenfaster than the movement of the bottles and the caps are thereforerotated and removed. This system is advantageous because no separationis necesssary as non-capped bottles pass through unaffected.

However, the above described system is extremely disadvantageous becausecaps which are tightly sealed on the bottles maypass through the devicestill secured to the bottle. This means that the entire operation mustbe stopped in order to remove the capped bottle. This system works wellfor caps that are relatively loosely screwed on the bottles, but for theoccasional cap which is tightly sealed, the friction between the cap andthe bottle may be greater than the friction between the cap and thebelts. The cap is therefore not rotated and remains sealed to thebottle.

it is, therefore, the prime object of the present invention to provideapparatus for removing twist-type caps from bottles wherein the caps areloosened prior to removal such that substantially all of the caps areremoved.

A second object of the present invention is to provide apparatus forremoving twist-type caps from bottles which can be installed as a unitin a pre-existing bottle conveyor system.

A third object of the present invention is to provide apparatus forremoving twist-type caps from bottles as they are continuously movedthrough the apparatus by means of a conveyor.

A further object of the present invention is to provide apparatus forremoving twist-type caps from bottles which can be easily adjusted toaccommodate bottles of various sizes.

It is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus forremoving twist-type caps from bottles which can utilized to remove capsof different sizes with only minor modification and which will noteffect bottles without caps as they pass through the apparatus.

It is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus forremoving twist-type caps which functions automatically and at highspeeds in order to substantially facilitate the bottle removal process.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide apparatusfor removing twist-type caps from bottles which comprises inexpensive,sturdy and reliable mounted parts for ease of repair and long machinelife.

In accordance with the present invention apparatus for removingtwist-type caps from bottles is provided having means for conveying thebottles at a given speed. Cap loosening means and cap removal means arelocated one after the other in the direction of the conveyance of thebottles. The cap loosening means and cap removal means each operablyengage each cap as the bottles are conveyed by the conveyor means suchthat the caps are acted upon to loosen same by the cap loosening meansand further acted upon to remove same by the cap removal means.

The cap loosening means is necessary to insure that each cap whichenters the cap removal means is loosened to the point where the capremoval means can act upon the cap to remove it. In this way,substantially all of the caps will be removed. The cap loosening meanscomprises a plurality of rotatable discs each of which has a series ofrecesses along the periphery thereof. Spaced from the discs is a movablebelt operably connected to a means for moving the belt at a speedgreater than the speed of the conveyor means. A plurality of recessesare situated along the periphery of each disc. The recesses are formedto securely engage each cap in turn as it is moved between the discs andthe movable belt. The movement of the bottle along the conveyor rotatesthe disc containing the 'recess in which the cap on the bottle isengaged from a position wherein one of the recesses thereon accepts acap to a position wherein the cap is released by the recess. Therecesses are spaced along the periphery of each disc such that when acap is released by one recess another recess on that disc is positionedto accept the cap on the next successive bottle on the conveyor. Therotation of the disc tends to rotate the cap to loosen it. The discs arealigned such that when a cap is released by the recess of one disc arecess on the next succeeding disc is in position to accept the cap. Thecap is therefore rotated a given amount by each of the discs insuccession. Several discs are utilized in tandem in case a cap is sotightly secured to a bottle that it is not rotated by the action of theprimary discs. Thus several similar but separate operations areperformed to insure that at least one will provide an initial rotationof the cap. in

order to facilitate the initial rotation, the cap is jarred as it movesalong the discs.

Means for intermittently exerting a lateral force on the cap as it movesbetween the discs and the movable belt is provided so that the caps arejarred to further insure loosening of the caps from the bottles. Thismeans comprises a plurality of rollers preferably mounted on the side ofthe belt other than the side which engages the caps such that the forceis exerted through the belt. The jarring action'of the intermittentforce exerting means works in conjunction with the discs to insure thateach and every cap will be rotated by at least one disc and thereforeloosened before entrance into the cap removal means.

The cap removal means comprises a stationary belt and a movable beltspaced therefrom. The movable belt is operably connected to means formoving the belt at a speed greater than the speed of the conveyingmeans. The caps, as they move from the cap loosening means, are securelyengaged between the stationary and movable belts which comprise the capremoval means. The cap removal means acts to further rotate the cap withrespect to the bottle until it is no longer secured to the bottle. Atthis point compressed air may be pumped underneath the cap to lift itfrom the bottle and suction means used to convey the lifted cap anddispose of same. I

To the accomplishment of the above, and to such other objects as theymay hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to apparatus forremoving twisttype caps from bottles as defined in the appended claimsand as described in this specification, taken together with theaccompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts andwherein:

FIGS. 1A and 1B combine to form a top elevational view of a preferredembodiment of the present inventron;

FIGS. 2A and 2B combine to form a side elevational view of a preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of a preferred embodiment of theapparatus showing a bottle being decapped therein;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the drive means of the presentapparatus taken along lines 44 of FIG. 28;

FIG. 5 is a top elevational view of the cap loosening means and capmeans of the present invention taken along lines 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the cap loosening means of thepresent invention taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the movable belt means of thepresent invention taken along lines 77 of F IG. 5.

The present invention comprises a drive means, generally designated A,which is operably connected to drive a pair of upstanding conveyorbelts, generaly designated B. The upstanding conveyor belts B aresituated to securely engage a bottle positioned on a conventional bottleconveyor, generally designated as C. All three conveyor belts are movedat a single given speed to move -a stream of bottles through theapparatus. The upstanding conveyor belts B are utilized to prevent therotation of the bottles with respect to conveyor belt C as the bottlepasses through the decapping apparatus.

Cap loosening means D comprises, in addition to a movable belt means,generally designated D a series of aligned rotatable discs driven bydrive means A and generally designated D each of which has a pluralityof recesses along the periphery thereof. In the preferred embodiment,four rotatable discs are shown each of which has six recesses along theperiphery thereof. The recesses are situated such that each cap in turnmay be securely engaged therein between each disc and the portion of themovable belt D situated across therefrom. Each of the discs is rotatablefrom a position wherein one of the recesses thereon accepts a cap to aposition wherein the recess releases the cap. The recesses are spacedalong each disc such that when the cap is released by one recess asucceeding recess is in position to accept the cap on the nextsuccessive bottle on conveyor means C. Further, the discs are alignedsuch that when a cap is released from the recess of one disc a recess onthe next successive disc is in position to accept that cap. The rotationof each of the discs rotates the cap thereby loosening it.

However, certain caps may be tightly secured to the bottle. Too tightly,in fact, for the first disc to rotate it. In order to overcome thisproblem several discs are located in tandem such that if the cap is notrotated by the primary disc it will be rotated by one of the subsequentdiscs. In this way cap loosening is insured. Preferably, the recessesare formed of resilient material such that a retentive engagement of thecap is facilitated between the disc and the movable belt. The recessesare formed such that a non-capped bottle will pass through cap looseningmeans D without being affected thereby.

Cap loosening means D further comprises a means generally designated D,for intermittently exerting a lateral force on each cap as each cap inturn moves through the cap loosening means D. Intermittent forceexerting means D comprises a plurality of rotatable rollers fixedlymounted to the frame of the apparatus immediately behind the portion ofthe belt means which is opposite the discs. As each cap moves throughcap loosening means D each of the rollers will jar the cap so as tofurther loosen it from the bottle. Means D further insures that the capwill be rotated by at least one disc to loosen it by working inconjunction with the discs to jar the cap sufficiently to permitrotation of the cap by the discs.

Since the movement of the movable belt means D is at a speed which isgreater than the movement of the bottles on the conveyor means C, theaction of the movable belt D along with the rotatable discs D and theintermittent force exerting means D insures that the caps will beloosened and rotated with respect to the bottles. Thus, each cap will beloosened to the point where it can be removed by cap removal means E.

After each bottle in turn emerges from cap loosening means D it passesinto cap removal means E which comprises a stationary belt generallydesignated E which is spaced from a second movable belt generallydesignated E the latter also being movable at a speed greater than thespeed of the bottles on the conveyor C. The caps are firmly engagedbetween the stationary belt E and the movable belt E to rotate the capswith respect to the bottles until they are no longer secured to thebottle neck. At this point the cap may be lifted or sucked from thebottle by conventional means such as a compressed air source or suctionmeans and thereby disposed of.

More specifically, as seen in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 4, the apparatus of thepresent invention comprises a drive means A A which has a motor which isoperably connected to a main drive shaft 12. Because motor 10 willoperate at a speed which is too fast to drive the apparatus, a speedreducer 14 is interposed between motor 10 and main drive shaft 12. Apulley 16 operably connected to motor 10 and a pulley 18 operablyconnected to reducer 14 are connected by a flexible belt 20 to providethe connection between motor 10 and reducer 14.

As best seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B, main drive shaft 12 has a roller chainsprocket 22 connected thereon. Each of the upstanding conveyors 24, 26is situated around a pair ,of spaced spindles 28, 30, and 32, 34respectively. A chain 36 is threaded around sprocket 22, spindle 30,spindle 34 and a spring loaded sprocket idler 38. In this way, spindle30 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in FIGS. 1A and1B) and spindle 34 is rotated in a clockwise direction (as viewed inthese figures). The motion of spindles 30 and 34 will cause upstandingconveyor belts 24 and 26 to engage the sides of the bottles between themand convey the bottles in turn .along the length of the machine.Conveyor belt C supports the bottles from beneath. Upstanding conveyors24 and 26 are moved at the same speed as conveyor C and serve toeliminate any rotational movement of the bottle with respect toconveyorbelt C. Conveyor belt C is normally driven by a drive means external tothe apparatus-of the present invention and which is therefore notillustrated in the drawings.

Although chain 36 is not shown in FIGS. 2A and 28, it can be appreciatedfrom the position of spindles 32 and 34 that chain 36 lies in a planebeneath the portion of the apparatus upon which cap loosening means Dand cap removal means E is situated. Such a configuration is desirablein order to prevent the interference of chain 36 with the remainder ofthe bottle decapping apparatus.

Cap loosening means D and cap removal meansE are both situated on avertically movable frame 40. Frame 40 is adjustable with respect to theplane of conveyor belt C so that bottles of various heights may bedecapped by the apparatus of the present invention. This heightadjustment is accomplished by means of a pair of externally threadedshafts42 and 44 each of which supports frame" 40. Shaft 42 is insertedinto bracket member 46 which is fixedly mounted to the frame of theapparatus. Likewise, shaft 44 is situated within mounted member 48 whichis also fixedly mounted to the frame of the apparatus. Mounting members46 and 48 are internally threaded to interlock with the external threadson shafts 42 and 44 respectively. The height of frame 40 is adjusted byturning a rotatable handle 50 which is operably connected to shaft 42.The rotation of handle 50 serrves to rotate shaft 42 thus axially movingthe shaft with respect to mounted means 46. A roller chain sprocket 52is mounted on shaft 42 which is operably connected to a roller chainsprocket 54 mounted to shaft 44 by means of a chain 56. In this way, therotation of handle 50 not only serves to rotate shaft 42 but alsosimultaneously to rotate shaft 44 such that the platform 40 is moved upor down with respect to conveyor belt C. Of course, this heightadjustment need be performed only once for each type of bottle which isbeing decapped. When the height of a series of bottles being fed intothe machine changes, the position of frame 40 is adjusted such that thecap loosening means D and cap removal means E are in the appropriateposition to engage the caps on the bottles (see FIG. 3).

Mounted on main drive shaft 12 is a roller chain sprocket 58 which isused to transfer the rotation of main drive shaft 12 to each of themovable belts D and E which form a part of cap loosening means D and capremoval means E, respectively. As can best be seen by FIG. 5, belt Dpasses along intermittent force exerting means D between pulleys 62 and64 as well as in a zigzag configuration between pulleys 66, 68, 70, 72and 74 thereby forming a loop. As seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B, sprocket 58on drive shaft 12 is operably connected to rotate a sprocket 71 by meansof a chain 90. Sprocket 71 is situated on the same shaft as pulley suchthat the rotation of sprocket 71 rotates pulley 70.

In a similar manner belt E is situated in a straight path betweenpulleys 76 and 78 and a zigzag path between pulleys 80, 82, 84, 86 and88. A roller chain sprocket 81, which is on the same shaft as pulley 84,is operably connected to sprocket 71 by means of a chain 92. In order tomaintain the proper tension on chains 90 and 92, a spring-loadedrotatable bracket 94 is mounted on frame 40. Bracket'94 has a pair ofrotatable sprockets 96 and 98 each of which is situated on a differentend of bracket 94. Rotatable sprockets 96 and 98 are in communicationwith chains 90 and 92, respectively. Rotatable bracket 94 is urged torotate in a counterclockwise manner as seen'in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Thespring bias on bracket 94 is adjusted to maintain the tension chains 90and 92 at a level to prevent slippage between these chains and thesprockets to which they connected. Sprockets 71 and 81 are connected tosprocket 58 on main drive shaft 12 such that movable belt D and movablebelt E each travel at a speed which is greater than the speed ofupstanding conveyors 24 and 26 and bottle conveyor C. This may beaccomplished by a suitable sizing of the respective sprockets, a gearbox (not shown) or in any other conventional manner. I

As seen in FIG. 5, cap loosening means D comprises four rotatable discsD designated separately as 100, 102, 104 and 106 aligned opposite thestraight portion of the path of belt D, Although four discs are shown inthe preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is obvious thatany number of discs which are desired can be utilized herein. Each ofthe discs through 106 has six recesses along the periphery thereof. Thenumber and size of the recesses on each of the discs will depend uponthe diameter of the caps which the recesses will engage. Each recessmust be small enough to engage the caps securely but large enough topermit the neck of an uncapped bottle to pass through it withoutengaging it. If different size caps are to be removed, each of the discs100 to 106 can be replaced by discs having recesses of different sizewhich are more suitable to engage the cap which is being removed. Inthis way, the machine of the present invention can be easily modified toaccommodate bottles having different size caps.

Each of the discs 100 through 106 is rotatable from a position whereinone of the recesses is situated to accept a cap as the bottle containingthe cap travels along conveyor belt C (from left to right as seen inFIG. to a position wherein the cap is released from the recess. Therecesses are spaced along the periphery of each disc such that when thedisc is rotated to release the cap from one recess another recess issituated to accept the cap on the next successive bottle on bottleconveyor means C. The discs 100 through 106 are aligned such that whenone disc is rotated in order that the recess thereon releases a cap, thenext disc is in an angular position to have one of its recesses situatedto accept the cap as the bottle moves along conveyor C.

Each of the recesses on disc 100 through 106 are formed to securelyengage a cap between the disc upon which the recess is situated andflexible belt D The rotation of the disc is caused by the movement ofthe bottle whose cap is engaged within a recess thereon as the bottle ismoved along conveyor belt C. The recesses on each of the discs 100 to106 are preferably formed of a resilient material to facilitate firmfrictional engagement of the cap. Such frictional engagement isnecessary so that the rotation of the disc will also rotate the cap toloosen it. The rotation of each of the discs 100 through 106 will eachrotate the cap through an arc of about 30 if the frictional engagementbetween the disc and cap is greater than between the cap and the bottle.Therefore, if each of the discs 100 to 106 performs its rotationalfunction on the cap, the cap loosening means as a whole will rotate thecap through an arc of approximately 120?. It is possible that a cap willbe so tightly secured to thebottle that the first disc will be unable torotate it. For this reason a number of discs in tandem is provided.Experience has shown that such a setup substantially reduces the chancesof an unloosened cap entering the removal means E. It is necessary thatonly loosened caps enter cap removal means E because an unloosened capmay pass through removal means E and not be removed therein.

However, there may be instances when the cap is screwed so tightly onthe bottle that the friction created by the resilient recess whichengages the cap between the disc and movable belt D is not sufficient torotate the cap with respect to the bottle. If an individual wereunscrewing the cap manually but could not exert sufficient frictionalforce on the cap to overcome the frictional forces between the cap andthe bottle, he might tap the cap on the edge of a rigid surface toloosen it. Intermittent force exerting means D performs this tappingfunction automatically.

Intermittent force exerting means D comprises a series of rollers 108rotatably mounted along the straight part of the path of belt D on theside of belt D which does not contact the caps. As the cap moves betweendiscs 100 to 106 and belt D each of the rollers 108 exerts a lateralforce on the cap through belt D which acts in a manner similar totapping the bottle cap on a rigid surface in order to jar the cap. Inaggregate, the rollers 108 serve to intermittently exert lateral forceson the cap as the cap moves through the cap loosening means.Intermittent force exerting means D tends to loosen the cap. Means Dworks in conjunction with discs 100 through 106 and movable belt D(which is moving faster than the bottle on conveyor belt C) to insurethat at least one of the discs will be able to rotate each of the caps.

Referring now to FIG. 6, it can be seen that rotatable disc 102 is madeup of a resilient body section 110 which is sandwiched between an upperrigid plate 112 and a lower rigid plate 114. Plates 112 and 114 secureflexible body portion therebetween by means of a plurality of screwmembers 116. Mounted on top of upper plate 112 and rotatable therewithis a motion limiting member 118 having a pin 120 in communicationtherewith. Pin 120 is mounted in bracket 122 into which the shaft 124 ofeach of the rotatable discs extends. Pin 120 communicates with member118 in order to create a frictional drag on disc 102 such that the discis not entirely free to rotate. A certain amount of force must beexerted by a cap 126 thereon in order to rotate the disc. This exertionof force by the cap facilitates the loosening of the cap.

As also can be seen in FIG. 6, flexible belt D as shown has aconventional trapezoidal shaped crosssection. The pulleys which contactthe wider surface of belt D have non-recessed peripheries. These arepulleys 64 (see FIG. 7), 72, 68 and 62. On the other hand, those pulleys74 (see FIG. 7), 70 and 66 which contact .the narrower portion of belt Dhave a circumferential trapezoidal recess along the peripheries thereofto maintain the alignment of belt D Thus the crosssectional shape ofbelt D and the peripheries of certain of the pulleys serve to maintainthe alignment between belt D and the remainder of the pulleys aroundwhich belt D travels.

After being released by the recess on disc 106, the loosened cap travelsfrom cap loosening means D into cap removal means E which is situatedimmediately behind it in the direction of bottle movement on bottleconveyor means C. Cap removal means E comprises a stationary belt Ewhich is spaced from a movable belt E Movable belt E is driven by meansof pulley 84 which is operably connected to sprocket 81 and thussprocket 71 by means of chain 92 as previously described. Belt E andpulleys 76 through 88 have the same configuration and operate insubstantially the same manner as belt D and pulleys 64 through 74, whichis described in detail above. The belts E and E are spaced apartsufficiently to permit the neck of a non-capped bottle to pass throughcap removal means E unaffected.

As the cap enters cap removal means E it is securely engaged betweenstationary belt E and movable belt E It must be remembered that movablebelt E is moving at a speed which is greater than the linear movement ofthe cap. The movement of movable belt E with respect to stationary beltE tends to rotate the cap engaged therebetween with respect to thebottle upon which it is secured. As the cap moves along cap removalmeans E it is continuously rotated until the cap is no longer secured tothe bottle. At the end of cap removal means E, a stream of compressedair may be utilized from beneath the cap to lift the cap off the bottle.Likewise or alternatively, a suction means may be used to lift the capfrom the bottle and dispose of it. These compressed air means andsuction means are not shown in the drawings as they are state-of-theart.

The bottle within the cap removed continues to move along bottleconveyor means C and comes to the end of upstanding conveyors 24 and 26at which time it is released from engagement between the upstandingconveyors. After release from the upstanding conveyors 24 and 26 thebottle moves along bottle conveyor belt C to the next station, which maybe a bottle filling operation.

Because of the nature of the apparatus, it can readily be placed, as aunit, on any conventional conveyor system, such as a bottle conveyordescribed herein as conveyor C. This means that it can be utilized withany preexisting system to perform the cap removal process automaticallyand continuously.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been specificallydisclosed herein for purposes of illustration. It is apparent that manymodifications and variations may be made upon this specific structuredisclosed herein. It is intended to cover all of these variations andmodifications which fall within the scope of this invention as definedby the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for removing twist-type caps from bottles comprising meansfor conveying the bottles at a given speed, cap loosening means and capremoval means located one after the other in the direction of conveyanceof the bottles, said cap loosening means and cap removal means eachoperably engaging each cap as the bottles are conveyed by said conveyormeans such that the caps are acted upon by said cap loosening means toprovide an initial rotation of each cap, said initial cap rotation beinginsufficient to permit removal of the cap from the bottle and furtheracted upon to remove the cap from the bottle by said cap removal means.

2. Apparatus for removing twist-type caps from hottles comprising meansfor conveying the bottles at a given speed, cap loosening means and capremoval means located one after the other in the direction of conveyanceof the bottles, said cap loosening means comprising a rotatable dischaving a recess on the periphery thereof, said recess formed to securelyengage a cap as the bottle upon which the cap is situated is conveyed bysaid conveyor means, said cap loosening means and cap removal means eachoperably engaging each cap as the bottles are conveyed by said conveyormeans such that the caps are acted upon to loosen same by said caploosening means and further acted upon to remove same by said capremoval means.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said recess is formed ofresilient material.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said disc is rotated froma position wherein said recess accepts the cap to a position whereinsaid cap is released from said recess such that the rotation of saiddisc acts on the cap to loosen same.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said disc has a pluralityof recesses along the periphery thereof, said recesses being spaced suchthat the rotation of the disc to release a cap from one recess movesanother recess into position to accept the cap on the next successivebottle on said conveyor means.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said disc is rotated bythe movement of the bottle whose cap is engaged in a recess thereon.

7. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the rotation of the disctends to rotate the cap through an arc of about 8. Apparatus forremoving twist-type caps from bottles comprising means for conveying thebottles at a given speed, cap loosening means and cap removal meanslocated one after the other in the direction of conveyance of thebottles, said cap loosening means comprising a plurality of alignedrotatable discs which successively act upon a cap to rotate the cap,said cap loosening means and cap removal means each operably engagingeach cap as the bottles are conveyed by said conveyor means such thatthe caps are acted upon to loosen same by said cap loosening means andfurther acted upon to remove same by said cap removal means.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein each of said discs has aplurality of recesses thereon, each of said recesses being formed tosecurely engage a cap, each of said discs being rotated by the movementof the bottle whose cap is engaged in a recess thereon from a positionwherein one recess accepts the cap to a position wherein the cap isreleased by said recess such that the rotation of each disc acts on thecap to loosen same, said recesses on each disc being spaced such thatthe rotation of that disc to release a cap from one recess moves anotherrecess into position to accept the cap on the next successive bottle onsaid conveyor means.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein each of the recesses areformed of resilient material.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein a cap is accepted by arecess on one disc after the cap is released from a recess on the discimmediately preceding said disc.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the rotation of each ofsaid discs tends to rotate the cap through an arc of about 30.

13. Apparatus for removing twist-type caps from bottles comprising meansfor conveying the bottles at a given speed, cap loosening means and capremoval means located one after the other in the direction of conveyanceof the bottles, said cap loosening means comprising means forintermittently exerting a lateral force on a cap as the bottle uponwhich the cap rests is moved by said bottle conveying means so as to jarthe cap to loosen same, said cap loosening means and cap removal meanseach operably engaging each cap as the bottles are conveyed by saidconveyor means such that the caps are acted upon to loosen same by saidcap loosening means and further acted upon to remove same by said capremoval means.

14. Apparatus for removing twist-type caps from bottles comprising meansfor conveying the bottles at a given speed, cap loosening means and capremoval means located one after the other in the direction of conveyanceof the bottles, belt means spaced from said cap loosening means suchthat each cap is securely engaged between said cap loosening means andsaid belt means as the bottle upon which the cap is situated is conveyedand means for moving said belt at a speed greater than said given speed,said cap loosening means and cap removal means each operably engagingeach cap as the bottles are conveyed by said conveyor means such thatthe caps are acted upon to loosen same by said cap loosening means andfurther acted upon to remove same by said cap removal means.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising means forintermittently exerting a lateral force on the caps as they move betweensaid cap loosening means and said belt means so as to jar the cap toloosen same, said force means acting through at least a portion of saidbelt means.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said force exertingmeans comprises a plurality of rollers situated along that portion ofsaid belt means which engages said caps, but on the other side of saidbelt means portion from said caps such that said intermittently exertedforce is exerted on the cap through said belt means.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said force exerting means is amovable belt.

18. Apparatus for removing twist-type caps from hottles comprising meansfor conveying the bottles at a given speed, rotatable means having arecess on the periphery thereof, said recess being situated to engagethe caps of each of the bottles moved by said conveyor means to rotatethe cap to loosen same, and means for exerting a force on said caps inthe direction of said recess thereby insuring secure engagement of thecaps within said recess.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said rotatable meanscomprises a disc having a plurality of recesses along the peripherythereof, said disc being rotated by the movement of the bottle whose capis engaged within a recess thereon from a first position wherein one ofthe recesses accepts a cap to a position wherein said recess releasessaid cap, said recesses being spaced such that when said cap is releasedanother recess is situated to accept the cap on the next successivebottle on said conveyor means.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said recess is formed ofresilient material to facilitate the engagement of a cap therein.

21. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the rotation of saiddisc tends to rotate the cap engaged within a recess thereon through anarc of about 30.

22. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said rotatable meanscomprises a plurality of aligned discs situated such that when therecess of one disc releases a cap the cap is accepted by a recess on thenext successive disc.

23. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said cap loosening meanscomprises means for intermittently exerting a lateral force on a cap asthe bottle upon which the cap rests is moved by said bottle conveyingmeans so as to jar the cap to loosen same.

24. The apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising belt meansspaced from said cap loosening means such that each cap is securelyengaged between said cap loosening means and said belt means as thebottle upon which the cap is situated is conveyed and means for movingsaid belt at a speed greater than said given speed. a

25. The apparatus according to claim 17 further comprising means forintermittently exerting a lateral force on the caps as they move betweensaid cap loosening means and said belt means so as to jar the cap toloosen same, said force means acting through at least a portion of saidbelt means.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said force exertingmeans comprises a plurality of rollers situated along that portion ofsaid belt means which engages said caps, but on the other side of saidbelt means portion from said caps such that said intermittently exertedforce is exerted on the cap through said belt means.

1. Apparatus for removing twist-type caps from bottles comprising means for conveying the bottles at a given speed, cap loosening means and cap removal means located one after the other in the direction of conveyance of the bottles, said cap loosening means and cap removal means each operably engaging each cap as the bottles are conveyed by said conveyor means such that the caps are acted upon by said cap loosening means to provide an initial rotation of each cap, said initial cap rotation being insufficient to permit removal of the cap from the bottle and further acted upon to remove the cap from the bottle by said cap removal means.
 2. Apparatus for removing twist-type caps from bottles comprising means for conveying the bottles at a given speed, cap loosening means and cap removal means located one after the other in the direction of conveyance of the bottles, said cap loosening means comprising a rotatable disc having a recess on the periphery thereof, said recess formed to securely engage a cap as the bottle upon which the cap is situated is conveyed by said conveyor means, said cap loosening means and cap removal means each operably engaging each cap as the bottles are conveyed by said conveyor means such that the caps are acted upon to loosen same by said cap loosening means and further acted upon to remove same by said cap removal means.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said recess is formed of resilient material.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said disc is rotated from a position wherein said recess accepts the cap to a position wherein said cap is released from said recess such that the rotation of said disc acts on the cap to loosen same.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said disc has a plurality of recesses along the periphery thereof, said recesses being spaced such that the rotation of the disc to release a cap from one recess moves another recess into position to accept the cap on the next successive bottle on said conveyor means.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said disc is rotated by the movement of the bottle whose cap is engaged in a recess thereon.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the rotation of the disc tends to rotate the cap through an arc of about 30*.
 8. Apparatus for removing twist-type caps from bottles comprising means for conveying the bottles at a given speed, cap loosening means and cap removal means located one after the other in the direction of conveyance of the bottles, said cap loosening means comprising a plurality of aligned rotatable discs which successively act upon a cap to rotate the cap, said cap loosening means and cap removal means each operably engaging each cap as the bottles are conveyed by said conveyor means such that the caps are acted upon to loosen same by said cap loosening means and further acted upon to remove same by said cap removal means.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein each of said discs has a plurality of recesses thereon, each of said recesses being formed to securely engage a cap, each of said discs being rotated by the movement of the bottle whose cap is engaged in a recess thereon from a position wherein one recess accepts the cap to a position wherein the cap is released by said recess such that the rotation of each disc acts on the cap to loosen same, said recesses on each disc being spaced such that the rotation of that disc to release a cap from one recess moves another recess into position to accept the cap on the next successive bottle on said conveyor means.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein each of the recesses are formed of resilient material.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein a cap is accepted by a recess on one disc after the cap is released from a recess on the disc immediately preceding said disc.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the rotation of each of said discs tends to rotate the cap through an arc of about 30*.
 13. Apparatus for removing twist-type caps from bottles comprising means for conveying the bottles at a given speed, cap loosening means and cap removal means located one after the other in the direction of conveyance of the bottles, said cap loosening means comprising means for intermittently exerting a lateral force on a cap as the bottle upon which the cap rests is moved by said bottle conveying means so as to jar the cap to loosen same, said cap loosening means and cap removal means each operably engaging each cap as the bottles are conveyed by said conveyor means such that the caps are acted upon to loosen same by said cap loosening means and further acted upon to remove same by said cap removal means.
 14. Apparatus for removing twist-type caps from bottles comprising means for conveying the bottles at a given speed, cap loosening means and cap removal means located one after the other in the direction of conveyance of the bottles, belt means spaced from said cap loosening means such that each cap is securely engaged between said cap loosening means and said belt means as the bottle upon which the cap is situated is conveyed and means for moving said belt at a speed greater than said given speed, said cap loosening means and cap removal means each operably engaging each cap as the bottles are conveyed by said conveyor means such that the caps are acted upon to loosen same by said cap loosening means and further acted upon to remove same by said cap removal means.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising means for intermittently exerting a lateral force on the caps as they move between said cap loosening means and said belt means so as to jar the cap to loosen same, sAid force means acting through at least a portion of said belt means.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said force exerting means comprises a plurality of rollers situated along that portion of said belt means which engages said caps, but on the other side of said belt means portion from said caps such that said intermittently exerted force is exerted on the cap through said belt means.
 17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said force exerting means is a movable belt.
 18. Apparatus for removing twist-type caps from bottles comprising means for conveying the bottles at a given speed, rotatable means having a recess on the periphery thereof, said recess being situated to engage the caps of each of the bottles moved by said conveyor means to rotate the cap to loosen same, and means for exerting a force on said caps in the direction of said recess thereby insuring secure engagement of the caps within said recess.
 19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said rotatable means comprises a disc having a plurality of recesses along the periphery thereof, said disc being rotated by the movement of the bottle whose cap is engaged within a recess thereon from a first position wherein one of the recesses accepts a cap to a position wherein said recess releases said cap, said recesses being spaced such that when said cap is released another recess is situated to accept the cap on the next successive bottle on said conveyor means.
 20. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said recess is formed of resilient material to facilitate the engagement of a cap therein.
 21. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the rotation of said disc tends to rotate the cap engaged within a recess thereon through an arc of about 30*.
 22. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said rotatable means comprises a plurality of aligned discs situated such that when the recess of one disc releases a cap the cap is accepted by a recess on the next successive disc.
 23. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said cap loosening means comprises means for intermittently exerting a lateral force on a cap as the bottle upon which the cap rests is moved by said bottle conveying means so as to jar the cap to loosen same.
 24. The apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising belt means spaced from said cap loosening means such that each cap is securely engaged between said cap loosening means and said belt means as the bottle upon which the cap is situated is conveyed and means for moving said belt at a speed greater than said given speed.
 25. The apparatus according to claim 17 further comprising means for intermittently exerting a lateral force on the caps as they move between said cap loosening means and said belt means so as to jar the cap to loosen same, said force means acting through at least a portion of said belt means.
 26. The apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said force exerting means comprises a plurality of rollers situated along that portion of said belt means which engages said caps, but on the other side of said belt means portion from said caps such that said intermittently exerted force is exerted on the cap through said belt means. 